GILBERTSON: ESKIMO CULTURE 23 



7. &quot;LIBERALISM&quot; 



It would not be fair, however, to leave the consideration of 

 the attitude of the Eskimo on customs at this point, as many 

 are inclined to do, in the case of the Eskimo, as of primitive 

 peoples in general. For there is another side to the matter. The 

 Eskimo mind is not so &quot;ethnocentric&quot; and &quot;conservative,&quot; 

 unsusceptible to new influences or unappreciative of the good 

 in others, as the foregoing might lead one to conclude, if that 

 were all that was said. First, what is the cause of conservatism 

 among them? Is it the inherent state of the brain of primitive 

 man? The answer is rather that we must look for it in the 

 conditions of their environment and history. In their hand-to- 

 hand struggle for existence it is indispensable to survival that 

 they adhere to those things which have been tried by the experi 

 ence of generations. &quot;Is it not wiser to bow to it, and obey, 

 when you are too ignorant to draw up anything better for 

 yourself.&quot; (50:99.) They admit that even their wisest 

 angakoks are not omniscient nor the traditional means of con 

 trolling destiny infallible. As Rasmussen tells us, their religious 

 conceptions &quot;are to them, not the only possible ones, but merely 

 the lest that they knoiv, through the traditions of their fore 

 fathers.&quot; (50: 124.) He quotes the Eskimo as saying; 



&quot;If any one with a better teaching would come to us and demand that 

 we believe his words, we would do so willingly, if we saw that his teach 

 ing was really better than ours. Yes, tell us the right, and convince us 

 that it is right, and we will believe you.&quot; 



Appreciation of the advantages of the white men is not want 

 ing. They confided to Paul Egede : 



&quot;You know so much, for you go about the whole world both by land 

 and water. We know nothing but what our ancestors have told us. 7 

 (20: 164; cf. 20: 23; 46; 52; 12: 123; 16. 1: 125.) 



The Eskimo are noted for two traits which are avenues of new 

 influences, curiosity and imitativeness. Murdoch writes of the 

 natives of Point Barrow, &quot;Their curiosity is unbounded and 

 they have no hesitation in gratifying it by unlimited question 

 ing.&quot; (42:42.) Their extreme politeness tends to counteract 

 the expression of their curiosity. Stefansson found Eskimo who 

 had not been in contact with white men, did not pry into others 

 affairs. (58: 200.) Peary says that 



